Plate piling machine



E. T. PETERSON PLATE FILING MACHINE June 23, 1931.

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Filed April 12, 1929 June 23, 1931. E. 'r. PETERSON PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 11 Sheets- Sheet 2 atbomu June 23, 1931. E; T; PETERSON 1,811,593

PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. E. T. PETERSON 1,311,593

PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 11 shets sh et, 4

IN EA/TOP guwflfwon ORNEY June 23, 1931. E. 'r. PETERSON PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 IN NTOR ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. E. 'r. PETERSON PLATE FILING MACHINE Eiled April 12, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet e r I IN VENTOR .7 r @144 A TTORNEY June 23, 1931. E. T. PETERSON PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 m u T m M V a m mp A N y QMJH V/fimm 4 %M Q .5: r r 3 m QM,

June 23, 1931. E. T. PETERSON' PLATE FILING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Shet 9 Filed April 12, 1929 attoz mu June 23, 1931. E. T. PETERSON 1,311,593

- PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 June 23, 1931. E. T. PETERSON PLATE FILING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 tutti... H 2! 13 u K in 265% Fmj ZoMnZ Crl m ujok zPrSn rnaL Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD T. PETERSON, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BIRDSBORO STEEL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, OF BIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA PLATE FILING- MACHINE .Application filed April 12,

My invention relates to machines for handling metal plates and the like, but more particularly to machines designed for receiving plates from the apparatus by which they are formed and piling them onto a suitable support. For example, the plates may be piled into a cradle from which they may be removed and conveyed away as by means of a crane; or they may be deposited or piled onto a railway car or a plurality of cars, an auto-truck or a plurality of autotrucks or the like by means of which the said plates or the like may be conveyed away.

The invention as embodied in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be considered as of two aspects. In one aspect it comprises means for receiving the plates from the forming apparatus, which means includes mechanism by which the metal plates or other forms or shapes may be discharged or kicked off from one side or the other of the said means, without regard to the means for receiving the said plates or the like as they are discharged from said means. In the second or other aspect it comprises not only the means comprehended in the first aspect as above stated, but also in addition thereto, means for receiving the plates as they are discharged from one side or the other of the means of the first aspect and for depositing them upon a receiving support, such, for example, as a railway car or a plurality of cars located at intervals.

The general object of the invention is to provide apparatus of novel construction which is adapted to receive plates or the like A from the usual means for delivering such plates or the like from the forming apparatus, and for discharging the said plates from one side or the other of the first named apparatus.

It also is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for piling plates or the like which comprises means for receiving the said plates and means which when once put into operation acts automatically to effect so discharge of the said plates from one side 1929. Serial No. 354,519.

or the other of the said apparatus as may be selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for receiving plates or the like having means of novel construction adapted to be actuated and moved back and forth transversely of the said apparatus at predetermined times in relation to the delivery of plates thereto for the purpose of discharging the same from one side or the other or both sides of the said apparatus as may be elected.

I shall not attempt at this point to indicate the various additional or other objects and advantages of the invention, but such other objects and advantages thereof either will be pointed out particularly in the detailed description which follows or will be apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its many practical advantages fully appreciated, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one convenient form of embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of a portion of an apparatus embodying the invention, certain parts thereof which are necessary to be employed in an apparatus embodying the second aspect of the invention being indicated in dash and dot lines;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus indicating the manner in which it is used but in which the means for receiving the plates from the delivery apparatus is shown at one side only of the latter;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the front portion of the delivery apparatus;

Fig. t is a top plan view of the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,-portions of the structure being broken away as indicated;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View of the kick-off portion ,of the apparatus taken at a convenient point intermediate the opposite ends thereof and showing also a portion of a truck for receiving the plates or other like or equivalent parts therefrom, and also showing a portion of a receiving member for depositing the plates or the like upon the truck;

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of a fragmentary portion of the kick-off apparatus and showing the kick-off device in vertical longitudinal section while it is occupying a substantially central vertical position;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view in sectional side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the kickoff apparatus for showing more clearly certain details of construction;

Fig. 11 is a view in top plan of the front end portion of one ,of the piling devices which constitutes a part of the apparatus when constructed to embody the invention in its second aspect referred to above, the said view showing the front end portion of the piler at the right hand side of the kickoff apparatus, it being understood that a similar structure is located at the opposite or left hand side of the said kick-off apparatus Fig. 12 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view in sectional side elevation of a fragmentary portion of one of the pilers showing more clearly certain details of construction;

Fig. 14 is a view in transverse sectional elevation of a fragmentary portion of the piling device constituting a part of the structure of the invention when the latter is constructed in accordance with the second aspect thereof to which reference has been made; and

Fig. 15 is a view showing schematically and in outline the electric system by means of which the operation of certain of the mechanism or means of the delivery or kick-off portion of the apparatus and the piling means thereof are operated.

For the purpose of aiding in a clear understanding of the invention I shall first set forth briefly the operation thereof.

The metal plates or other similar or equivalent members to be piled are delivered by the usual delivery mechanism employed for conveying plates or the like from the forming mechanism onto the apparatus consti' tuting the kick-off portion of the machine or apparatus of the invention. The kick-off or delivery portion of the mechanism comprises continuously rotating cyl inders or rollers by which the plates or the like are carried longitudinally of the apparatus. Just before the rear ends of the plates 1e. ve the conveying means by which the plates are taken away from the mechanism by which they have been formed, mechanism or means is put into operation to effect upward movement of aprons located at intervals along the kick-off portion of the apparatus whereby the plates are lifted from the continuously rotating cylinders or rollers. The plates, having been lifted from the rollers, may be allowed to come to rest by their own inertia or at the proper moment after the said aprons have operated to lift the plates from the conveying cylinders or rollers a brake may be applied to the plates to effect positive stopping thereof. However, the employment of a brake is not essential although in practice it has been found to operate with entire satisfaction.

At a proper moment with respect to the delivery of the plate onto the kick-off apparatus the operation of mechanism or means for causing lateral movement of the plate toward one or the other of the sides of the said apparatus is effected to cause a discharge of the plate from the aprons, to which reference has been made. The plates may be delivered or allowed to fall directly into or onto any suitable support such, for example, as a truck (as shown in the drawings) or a number of trucks located at i11- tervals by which they may be conveyed away from the apparatus. However, instead of permitting the plates to fall from the kick-off table or delivery apparatus directly onto a support such as has been referred to hereinbefore I prefer to provide means located but slightly below the plane of the top surfaces of the aprons re ferred to and only a short distance below the lower side of the plate as it rests upon the said aprons for receiving each individual plate as it is discharged or delivered by the kick-off mechanism, which means is adapted to be lowered to a plane either near the top of the truck or the like or the top of the successive plates after they have been placed upon the truck. The said means, after having reached a plane located as stated is withdrawn or moved inwardly to deposit the plate which may be supported thereon and then again returns into posi tion to receive the next plate as it is delivered or discharged from the delivery or kickoff apparatus by the kick-off arms, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and set forth in detail.

In the drawings I have shown at 1 the rear end portion of the means for conveying the plates or the like from the mechanism by which the same are formed onto the discharging or delivery apparatus which embodies my invention in its broader aspect. The respective plates are delivered by the conveying means indicated at 1 endwise onto the delivery or discharge (kick-off) mechanism which I have indicated as a whole at 2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The delivery or discharging apparatus comprises a delivery table including continuously rotating cylinders or rollers 3 by means of which the plates are conveyed longitudinally thereover. These rollers are journaled at their opposite ends in bearings provided upon the sectional side sills 4 of the frame structure of the apparatus. The said table also includes aprons 5 located at intervals long the length of the discharge or delivery apparatus in alternate relation to the conveying continuously rotating cylinders or rollers 3.

As the plates travel forwardly through the apparatus they pass underneath rollers 7 supported upon a shaft 8 mounted upon arms 9 which are rigidly secured to a pivotally mounted shaft 10. The said pivotally mounted shaft 10 is provided with an arm 11 rigidly secured thereto and projecting rearwardly therefrom. The said arm is provided with a weight 12 which preferably should be adjustably mounted. The arm 11 may be extended forwardly beyond the shaft 10, as is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to provide a forwardly extending arm 11, the forward end of which is connected to the upper end of a rod 15 which in turn is connected at its lower end to the movable armature of a solenoid 16. The said shaft 10 is also provided with an arm 17 which extends forwardly and upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to which the upper end of a depending link 18 is connected the lower end of which is connected to an arm or lever 20 a portion of the movement of which operates a contact device indicated as a whole at 21. Normally the rollers 7 are held out of contact with the plates which travel thereunder, as heretofore stated. Just prior to the time that the rear ends of the respective plates pass from the portion 1 of the plate conveyor and from underneath the rollers 7 the operative in charge of the machine, by pressing a button at C indicated in Fig. 15 of the drawings closes a circuit through the solenoid 16 to energize the same. Such energization causes pivotal movement of the pivoted shaft 10 in opposition to the weight 12 to thereby cause downward movement of the rollers 7 onto the plate which may be underneath the same. Such plate continues to move forward by reason of the fact that it is supported upon the conveying cylinders or rollers 3. The circuit including the solenoid 16 having been held closed by a contact on the limit switch Gr (Fig. 15) it follows that, when the rollers 7 are released by the passage of the plate from underneath the same, the arm 11 is pulled down completely and causes a sufficient movement of the arm 17 to close and complete the control circuit of the apron lift motor M which acts through a speed reducing device 22 to drive a shaft 23 provided with an eccentric 24 upon which is mounted a strap to which is connected the rear end of a connecting rod 25 which extends throughout the length of the plate discharge or kick-off apparatus.

Due to a circuit closed through a contact on the limit switch G the apron motor con tinues to run to cause upward travel of the aprons 5 until the latter arrive at their uppermost position. Simultaneously with the latter movement of the motor M a circuit is completed at the apron lift motor control device H (Fig 15), which permits a later application of the brake 27 and the starting of the drum timing gear motor M' (Fig. 15).

The movement of the connecting rod 25 to effect upward movement of the aprons 5 is in the direction of the arrow 30 in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The said rod is connected at intervals to the lower ends of arms 31 which extend downwardly from transverse oscillatable or rocking shafts 32 located at intervals throughout the length of the discharging or kick-off apparatus. The frame of the apparatus and the lengthwise extending driving shafts are made up of sections of selected length and the length of the apparatus may be varied by varying the number of sections employed in the con struction. The said shafts 32 are also provided with rearwardly extending arms 33 which are located at their opposite ends. These arms support beams 34 and in the construction as illustrated are connected to the said beams by means of brackets 35 which are secured to the said beams. Colums or pedestals 40 are secured at intervals to the said beams upon opposite sides of the apparatus and project upwardly. To the upper ends of these columns or pedestals the aprons 5 are connected. It will be noted that the rear edges of the aprons 5 which face in the direction from which the plates are delivered onto the delivery or kickoff apparatus are inclined downwardly as indicated at 41 to facilitate the passage of the plates over and onto the said aprons as they travel forward over the apparatus. For the purpose of guiding the plates onto the apparatus and in proper position upon the aprons I have provided guides 42 which are located at intervals along the upper edges of the stationary side sills 4. Upon movement of the connecting rod 25 toward the right, having reference to Figs. 3 and 10 of the drawings, it will be apparent that the arms 33 will be elevated. Such elevation effects upward movement of the aprons 5 so as to carry the top sides thereof into a plane either flush with or preferably slightly above the plane of the guides 42 so that when the plate is moved in one direction or the other laterally of the kick-off or delivery apparatus it may slide over the tops of the said guides. Upward movement of the aprons, which is effected during the rotation of the driving shaft 23 through one-half of a revolution, lifts the plates from or out of contact with the conveying rollers After having been lifted from the said rollers the plates, as has been indi- "ated already, may be allowed to come to rest by reason of their inertia, or if preferred, brake mechanism, such as that illustrated in the drawings, may be employed for positively engaging the said plates and positively stopping them in a predetermined position.

As has been suggested already, the employment of brake mechanism is not necessary to the successful operation of the machine, but as it may happen that some users of apparatus embodying the invention may desire to have included in the apparatus means for stopping the work at a predetermined point I have shown one form of construction of brake mechanism which may be employed.

The brake mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings and in the description thereof these figures will be referred to. It will be noted that the connecting rod 25 has connection near its rear end to the lower end of an arm which extends downwardly from a rock shaft 51 pivotally mounted at its opposite ends in bearings upon oppositely disposed uprights or legs constituting parts of the frame structure of the machine. Upon movement of the connecting rod toward the right (having reference to Fig. 3) to effect upward move ment of the aprons 5 as heretofore described the arm 50 is moved or rocked rearwardly to cause upward movement of an arm 52 to which the lower end of an adjustable link is connected. The upper end of said link is connected to an arm 54 which extends or projects rearwardly from a shaft which is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings upon the side sills 4. Rocking of the shaft in the direction caused by the upward movement of the arm 54 causes downward movement of the arms 56 projecting forwardly and slightly downwardly in a direction opposite that of the arm The lower ends of adjustable links 57 are connected to the ends of the arms 56 while the upper ends of said links are provided with slots 58 into which project pins 60 which extend laterally from the forward swinging ends of arms 61 mounted upon and rigidly connected with a shaft 62 journaled at its opposite ends in bearings provided in pedestals or upwardly projecting portions 63 upon the upper edges of the stationary side sills 4. Arms 65, rigidly connected with the shaft 62. project forwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 3. A shaft 66 is supported by the said arms, being journaled at its opposite ends in bearings provided in the outer ends of the arms. The said shaft carries rollers 67 which when a plate, such as shown at 68, is in position rest upon the said plate. At such time the pins 60 are located at the bottoms of the slots 58 in the upper ends of the links 57. Upon movement of the plate from underneath the rollers 67, which occurs after the same has been lifted from the cylinders or rollers 3, the said rollers 67 fall or move downwardly and project into openings 67 in the apron 5 which is located under said rollers and in so doing cause rocking movement of the shaft 62 to effect like movement of an arm 70 having connection through a link 71 with a switch indicated generally at 72 to close the latter.

The shaft 55, previously referred to, also is provided with arms 75 which project downwardly and slightly forwardly and the lower ends of which are connected by means of links 7 6 with the rear ends of rocking bars 77 pivoted intermediate their ends upon pivots supported in brackets 78 upon the stationary side sills 4. The opposite ends of said bars support a rod or bar 81. The opposite ends of the said rod or bar 81 extend through openings 82 in opposed relation to each other in the opposite side sills 4. The lower ends of adjustable connections 83 are connected to the said rod or bar 81 and the upper ends thereof are pivotally connected to a plate 84 which constitutes one member of the gripping means of the brake mechanism. The said shaft 55 is also provided with arms 85 which project upwardly and slightly rearwardly as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The said arms 85 may be extensions of and integral with the arms 75. The upper ends of the arms 85 are connected to the lower ends of adjustable links the upper ends of which are connected to the rear ends of bars 91 which are pivoted upon a shaft 91 supported at its opposite ends upon the pedestals 63 previously referred to. The opposite ends of the bars 91 support a cross rod or bar 92 upon which are mounted bell crank levers having upwardly extending arms 93 and horizontally and forwardly extending arms 94. A rod is mounted in the outer ends of the arms 94 and extends between the same and supports the plate 27 constituting the other member of the gripping means of the brake mechanism. The plate 27 is con nected to the rod or bar 95 by means of lugs or cars 96 which lugs or cars may be rigidly connected to the said rod while the latter is pivotally or rockingly supported by the arms 94, or if preferred, the rod 95 may be rigidly connected with the said arms and the ears or lugs 96 pivotally connected with and suspended from the said rod 95.

The upper ends of the arms 93 of the said bell crank levers are connected by means of adjustable links 100 to the upper ends of arms 101 which project upwardly from the shaft 91, the said arms being rigidly connected with the said rod. The said rod is also provided with a rearwardly and substantially horizontally extending arm 103 connected by means of a link 104 to the armature or movable core of a solenoid 105. The said solenoid is adapted to be energized after the passage of the plate from underneath the rollers 67 and when energized causes pivotal or rocking movement of the arms 103 and 101 to cause, through the links 100, rocking movement of the arms 93 and 94 toward the left to cause the gripping plate 27 to move downwardly to grip the plate 68 located between the same and the plate 84 to stop the plate 68 at a predetermined point. Immediately thereafter and prior to the actuation of the kick-off arms, which will be described later on, the brake is released whereby the said kick-off arms may remove the plate in one direction or the other laterally from the said kick-off or delivery apparatus.

Immediately after the plate has been removed by the operation of the kick-off devices and the latter returned to their initial or starting position the motor M is caused to resume its operation by the closing of the proper circuit through suitable circuit controlling means to lower the aprons 5 to permit the rollers 3 to perform their function of conveying the next or succeeding plate forwardly upon the apparatus.

It may be noted that the drum timing gear motor control device I (Fig. 15) operates to control the circuits and at the proper moment after the positioning of the plate a circuit is completed thereby to the kick-off operating motor M to effect operation thereof. The said operation continues until the driving shaft thereof has effected a complete revolution or cycle of the kick-off operating means. t may be noted that the direction in which the plates are removed from the aprons by the kick-off means depends upon the throw of the kick-off master switch indicated at N (Fig. 15) and the position of the kick-off arm as initially set up by the operative.

Assuming that the kick-off operating motor l\ is in operation it will be noted that the rotation thereof is transmitted through speed reducing means 110 to a transversely extending shaft provided with crank arms 111 to which the outer ends of connecting rods 112 are connected. Rotation of the crank arms 111 causes reclprocating movements of the connecting rods 112. The inner ends of the connecting rods are connected to the outer ends of a cross bar or rod 113 which is connected with and carried by an arm 114 which projects from one of the Sec tions or parts of sectional or two part strap 115 which is secured to an enlarged cylindrical portion 116 located centrally of a short hollow shaft 117 j ournaled in bearings 118 provided in a portion 119 of the frame structure of the machine which is suitably fashioned or designed for the purpose. The opposite ends of the shaft 117 are provided with flanges 120 to which are connected the adjoining ends of hollow shafts 121. The strap 115 is keyed to the enlarged portion 116 of the shaft 117 whereby relative rotation between the two is prevented. The two sections or parts of the strap 115 are secured together by means of bolts 122 as indicated.

Shafts similar to the shaft 117 are located at intervals of suitable length throughout the length of the machine and operate not only as means to which the ends of the hollow sectional shafts 121 may be connected but also as means for supporting the kick-off mechanism. However, the remaining straps are not provided with arms corresponding to the arm 114 shown in Figs. 7 and 8. To permit movement of the bar 113 to effect oscillatory movements of the arm and of the strap and shaft to which it is connectced parts of the portion 119 of the frame structure are cut away as indicated at 125 to form an opening therethrough through which the opposite ends of said bar may move back and forth.

Each of the shafts 117, however, is or may be provided with straps 115 to which are secured spaced arms 130 and 131, preferably integral, the inner surfaces of which are parallel with each other and constitute guides for a reciprocable carriage indicated as a whole at 132. The said carriage comprises an open frame structure member 133 having intermediate its ends laterally projecting portions 134 which extend in opposite directions in the direction of the length of the machine. I-beams or similar beams 135 extend between the said carriage structures 132 and rest at their opposite ends upon the projections 134 in the manner as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The ends of the said beams in adjoining relation to the carriage are secured thereto by the angle brackets 136. Preferably channel sections 137 are mounted in inverted position upon the upper edges of the beams 135. Secured at intervals to the said channel sections are kick-off fingers or arms 138. The upper end portions of these fingers extend between an edge of an apron 5 and an adjoining drum 3. Depending from the under sides of the projections 134 are tubular sections 139 within which are located coiled springs 140 the upper ends of which bear against the under sides of the said projections while the lower ends thereof rest upon projections 141 formed, in the construction shown, integrally with the upper portion of the strap 115. The

springs 140 are held under compression and tend to move the carriage structure 132 out wardly and to hold the same in an outward position. The frame 133 previously referred to is provided with rollers 142 one of which is located intermediate the ends thereofand the other two are located at the opposite ends thereof and all three engage the guides formed by the inner edges of the arms 130 and 131. The upper of the three rollers of each of the carriages, located as heretofore indicated at intervals throughout the length of the apparatus, contacts with the under side of a guide bar 150 the under side of which is curved downwardly as indicated. The said guide bar 150 is connected to a supporting crosswise extending bar 151 the opposite ends of which teminate in enlargements and are seated in guiding grooves 152 provided upon the inner sides of the side sills 4;. Preferably the said ends are provided with wear plates or linings as indicated at 153. It will be understood that there is a bar 150 and a supportnig bar 151 for the latter provided for each of the devices including the carriage 132. The opposite ends of the bar 151 are provided with downwardly extending projections 1541 which are pivotally connected with the upper ends of links 155 the lower ends of which are pivotally connected with the outer ends of the rearwardly extending arms 33 previously referred to. It will be seen, therefore, that when the connecting rod 25 is reciprocated or moved longitudinally as heretofore described not only are the aprons 5 acuated vertically but the bars 151 and the guide bars 150 likewise are vertically adjusted, but through greater distances than are the aprons Reciprocation of the connecting rods 112 causes oscillatory movements of the shaft sections 11'!- and 121 to thereby cause corresponding oscillatory movements of the arms 130 and 131 and of the I-beams 135 and channels 137 carried thereby together with the kick-off fingers or arms 138 carried by the said Lheams and channels. The springs 140 operate to cause the carriage structures 132 to occupy positions with the uppermost rollers thereof in contact at all times with the under sides of the downwardly curved guide bars 150. The radii of curvature of the under sides of the edges of the guide bars 150 are such that when the arms 130 and 131 are oscillated back and forth the carriage structure is caused to move inwardly and outwardly to an extent sufiicient to cause the upper ends of the kick-off arms or fingers 138 to move along lines parallel with the plane of the aprons 5. lVhen the aprons are in their lowermost position so as to permit the work to be supported by the conveying rollers 3 the upper ends of the fingers do not project above the said aprons but are located with respect to said aprons substantially as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the aprons 5 the supports therefor are connected to the arms 33 which project lateral ly from shafts 32 at points near the axes thereof, as appears in Fig. 10 of the drawings, while the supports for the kick-off arms or fingers 138 are connected to the said arms 33 at points in adjoining relation to their outer ends at substantially greater distances from the axes of the shafts 32 than are the points of connection of the supports for the said aprons from said axes. Hence it will be seen that upon rocking move ments of the arms 33 the kick-off arms or fingers 138 will be moved vertically simultaneously with the corresponding movements of the aprons 5 through greater distances than the latter. From this it will be seen that when the aprons are moved upwardly to lift the work from the conveying rollers 3 the upper ends of the kick-off arms or fingers will project short distances above the tops of the said aprons so that in their movements transversely of the apparatus any work which may be supported by the said aprons will be discharged upon one side or the other of the machine depending upon the adjustment of the controlling mechanism, as herein described.

Upon reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings it will be noted that as the arms 130 and 131 together with the carriage carried thereby are moved toward the right the said carriage will be depressed and that in moving downwardly the kick-off arm or finger, which is shown in dotted lines in said figure, likewise will be moved downwardly so that its upper end will at all times occupy a position in proper relation to the adjoining apron 5 toenable the upper end of the said arm or finger to contact with the adjoining edge of any plate which may be supported thereon and effect movement laterally thereof. It may be noted that in Fig. 8 the section is taken with the arms 130 and 131 assumed to be in a substantially vertical position. The employment of guide bars 150 and the supporting of the same in the manner as above described provides means whereby the kick-off arms or fingers 138 may be moved transversely of the apparatus from one side to the other while the aprons 5 are in their lowermost positions and while the work is being conveyed thereover by the work conveying rollers 3. The depression of the arms or fingers 138 by the action of the guide bars 150 during the movement thereof transversely of the apparatus prevents the same from contacting with any work which may be supported upon the conveying rollers 3 should they be moved from one side to the other of the apparatus while the work is so supported. It will be apparent that the work may be discharged from either side of the apparatus as may be elected.

As heretofore stated, the plates may be delivered directly from the delivery or kickoff apparatus onto a truck or car, such as that indicated at 160, but it may be preferred to deliver the same to piler arms 161 which are adapted to be elevated and lowered as heretofore indicated in order to avoid the falling of the plates through relatively great distances from the top of the kick-off or delivery apparatus onto the top of the truck or car and onto the tops of the successive plates as they are piled upon the trucks or cars.

As it may happen that some users of machines of the character of that disclosed herein would prefer to have embodied therein a piler apparatus I have shown such an apparatus co-operatively related to the de livery or kick-off apparatus. I have not shown full details of construction but have shown the structure sufficiently to enable those skilled in the art to understand the construction and operation thereof, particularly as the same is related to the kick-off or delivery apparatus.

Near the end of the cycle of the kick-off mechanism previously described a contact on a limit switch O, which is operated through 360 by mechanism of the kick-off arms drive, is momentarily closed and completes a circuit through the piler arm master switch P which starts the operation of the reversible or oscillatory piler motor M which, operating through gear reducing mechanism at 171, operates shafts 172 which extend in opposite directions therefrom into casings 173 and are provided upon their outer ends with gears or pinions 174- which are in engagement with rack bars 17 5 mounted within the said casings and which are adapted to be reciprocated by the oscillatory or reversing movements of the pinions 174:. The outer ends of these rack bars are connected with rods 176 which project into drum-like casings 177 and are connected at their outer ends to hearing plates 178 between which and the opposite or inner ends of the said drum-like casings 177 are located coiled springs, indicated as a whole at 179. These springs constitute counterbalancing means and resist movement of the rack bars 175 inwardly or toward the left, having reference to Fig. 12. The inner ends of the rack bars 175 have connection with connecting rods 180 which extend throughout the length of the piler apparatus. These con necting bars are connected at intervals to the upwardly extending arms 181 of pivotally supported bell crank levers located at the opposite sides of the piler apparatus. The other arms 181 of these respective bell crank levers are connected to the lower ends of links 182 the upper ends of which are connected to carriages, indicated as a whole at 183, which are provided with rollers 184 which engage guides 185 at the opposite sides of the main stationary frame of the piler apparatus. These carriages are connected respectively to the adjoining ends of beams 186 which are located upon the side of the apparatus toward the kick-off apparatus, the said beams being supported by the said carriages. Cross-wise extending beams 187 arranged in couples are also connected at their opposite ends to the said carriages and are supported thereby.

As has been indicated already, a contact on the limit switch 0 is momentarily closed near the end of the cycle of the kick-off mechanism previously described and completes the control circuit through the piler arm master switch P which starts the movement of the piler arms 161 downward. When the piler arms have reached a position in a plane in adjoining relation to the top of the truck or the top of a plate or pile of plates which may be mounted thereon a trigger or switch actuator 188, properly related to the said arms, contacts either with the top of the truck or car or with the top of a plate to actuatc a limit switch at Q, to interrupt the operation of the motor M and to start in operation the motor M for causing inward movement of the fingers 161. In the event that no car or cars shall have been placed to receive the plate from the piler fingers the downward movement of the arms set up as hereinafter described will continue to the lower mechanical limit of motion at which time such movement will be stopped or discontinued as will hereinafter be more fully described. The said fingers, after having had deposited thereon a plate, move downwardly and as indicated are then caused to be moved inwardly to deposit the plate. They are then simultaneously moved or returned outwardly and also upwardly, the circuit through the motor M having in the meantime been closed and the arrangement being such as to cause operation of the said motor in a reverse direction in order to cause movement of the connecting rods 180 in a direction to effect upward movement of the carriages 183 and the frame structure supported thereby.

Carriages 190 are located upon and supported by the respective couples of crosswise extending bars or beams 187. Channel beams 191 extend between and are supported by the said carriages 190, being connected thereto at their opposite ends. The plate receiving fingers 161 are pivot-ally connected at their inner ends at intervals to the said beams 191 as indicated at 192. The said fingers are supported intermediate their ends and guided by rollers 193 provided upon the beams 186.

For efiecting back and forth in and out movements of the carriages 190 I have provided operating fingers 195 which have slidable engagement with the said carriages and are connected at their lower ends to arms 196 which are rigidly connected, Jreferably integrally, with parts of two-part straps 197 which straps are rigidly connected with enlarged portions of the short shaft sections 198 of a longitudinally extending sectional shaft located below or underneath the piler frame structure and extending throughout the length thereof. The sections 198 of the said shaft are journaled in bearings provided upon pedestals or other suitable supports 199 located at intervals. The other shaft sections consist of tubular portions 200 of relatively large diameter which are connected at their opposite ends to the ends of the said sections 198. For oscillating the arms 196 to effect reciprocatory movements of the carriages 190 connecting rods 201 are connected to one of the arms 196. Reciprocation of the said connecting rods is effected by crank arms 202 and such reciprocation causes oscillatory movements of the arm 196 with which the said connecting rods are connected, and such oscillatory movements are transmitted through the sectional shaft to the other of the arms 196 which are mount ed upon the shaft sections 198, which as before stated, are located at intervals.

My invention may be stated broadly as comprehending a kick-off or plate delivery apparatus wherein means is provided for conveying plates successively onto the said apparatus, and wherein also means is provided for effecting discharge of the said plates successively either from one side or the other of the said apparatus; or if desired, the apparatus may be so designed and adjusted as to effect discharge of the plates alternately from opposite sides of the said apparatus. The means for effecting operation of the kick-off devices may be arranged to operate substantially automatically as described herein, or such means may be arranged to be manually manipulated and controlled. Preferably, however, an automatic or semi-automatically operated means for controlling the kick-off operations is desirable. lVhether or not piling means or apparatus be employed will or may depend upon the desires of the users of the apparatus. Such piling means or apparatus may be located either upon one or both sides of the kick-off apparatus.

As has been indicated already, the brake mechanism for gripping and stopping the plates at a predetermined position upon the kick-off apparatus may be omitted and inertia depended upon for stopping the plates which are thereafter kicked off of the machine by the kickoff arms or fingers.

In order that the electric control mechanism or system employed in the machine as illustrated in the drawings may be more clearly understood I shall now briefly describe the same by reference to Fig. 15 of the drawings.

In the system as described hereinafter each motor is provided with an automatic starting, accelerating, and stopping device of known construction so arranged that whenever its control circuit is closed said motor will start and come up to speed and when the circuit is opened will stop. There should also be provided with each motor an electrically operated brake so that there will be substantially no drift of the motor after the energy for operating the same is cut off. Preferably each unit of the complete machine is provided with an individual con-- trol which control may be effected by means of a separate push button station for each unit. These are indicated at 203 in the schematic lay-out of the circuit and circuit controlling means as illustrated in Fig. 15 as also are the safety stop switches 204. Preferably means should be provided at a remote point for preventing the operation of any part of the complete machine by the opening of the control circuit. It will be understood that means may be provided for automatically stopping the operation of any part of the machine in case excessive burden should be placed upon the driving motor due to any mechanical or electrical cause. The foregoing characteristics of the circuit and of the electric operating mechanism are in common and general use and constitute no part of my invention the scope of which has been pointed out hereinbefore.

In the following discussion where limit switch is mentioned it is used as a term to refer to any arrangement of current carrying parts that will open or close control circuits at recurring intervals in successive cycles, depending upon the position of the machine operating mechanism to which it is attached.

I shall describe first the system for operating and its relation to the apron lifting means of the kick-off apparatus.

At any time after the front end portion of a plate 68 has been delivered onto the delivery or kick-off apparatus and has passed underneath the rollers 7 and 67 the operative pushes a button C, connected with the portion of the system designated 1a, which completes the electrical control circuit of the electrically operated arms 9 to pull the latter downwardly and cause the rollers 7 to contact with the plate which is moving forwardly onto the kick-off apparatus. These rollers are held down through current supplied through the portion 1?) as long as the control circuit for operating the said arms is held closed by a contact on the limit switch G which is operated by the apron lift mechanism. lVhen the plate moves from underneath the rollers 7 the said arms 9 are pulled down completely and through a contact 21, the control circuit, indicated at 10, of the apron lift motor M is completed so that the aprons 5 begin their upward movement to lift the plate from the rollers 3. The apron motor continues to run in a direction to cause upward movement or travel of the aprons due to a circuit, indicated at 1d, closed through a contact on the said limit switch G. Simultaneously with the operation of the apron lift motor M to cause movement of the aprons upwardly a circuit, indicated at 16, is com- 'pleted at the apron lift motor control device H which permits a later application of the brake for stopping the plate and starting the drum timing gear motor M by the action of the arms of the brake mechanism which operate upon the completion of their downward movement as indicated at 2a to complete two control circuits, indicated at ,26 and 26d, which will be referred to hereinafter. The aprons 5 come to rest in their uppermost or topmost position, indicated at 17 upon the limit switch G, due to the open ing of a contact on the said switch G at such time or when the said aprons have arrived in such position. However, the plate which is being handled is assumed to be still sliding along due to its momentum and having been elevated lifts the rollers 67 and the arms by which they are carried above their normal position. Simultaneously with the coming to rest of the aprons in their uppermost or topmost position a contact, indicated at 1g, on the limit switch G opens whlch operates to de-energize the solenoid 16 to release the arms 9 previously referred to.

When the moving metal plate clears or passes from underneath the rollers 67 carried by the arms 65 the said arms drop and in so doing complete the two control circuits, indicated at 26 and 201, as heretofore stated. One of these control circuits, indicated at 21), causes the application of the brake to the plate through the brake control device W. The application of the brake is continued by a circuit, indicated at 20, completed by a contact on the limit switch Q actuated by the operating motor M The second or other control circuit, indicated at 261, completes the control circuit for the drum timing gear motor M which immediately starts revolution of the timing gear or limit switch Q through 360, such revolution being effected in approximately four seconds. The time of revolution, however, may be varied by adjustments in known manner in the motor circuit. The drum timing gear motor M continues to operate independently of the position of the arms 65 due to a circuit, indicated at 26, which is completed through a contact on the limit switch Q. In the early part of its rotation the drum timing motor M through the limit switch Q, simultaneously effects the operations indicated below and identified by the reference characters 2/", 2g and 2h.

The circuit 26, last referred to above, is broken by the opening of its contact on limit switch Q but at the same time the drum timing gear motor M is kept rotating by a new circuit, indicated at 2 completed by closing another contact on the limit switch Q which also may be referred to as a drum timing gear. The contact, indicated at 29, on the limit switch (which comprises a rotatable drum.) mentioned above in connection with the circuit 20, is momentarily opened and opens the circuit indicated at 20 and releases the brake on the metal plate which is now at rest.

Another contact on the drum timing gear or limit switch Q momentarily closes and completes a circuit, indicated at 2h operating the kick-off motor M for either right or left kicking, depending upon the throw or position of the kick-off master switch N and the position of the kick-off arms as initially set up by the operative. The operation of the kick-off arms mechanism referred to below takes place simultaneously with the remaining rotation of the drum timing gear (limit switch) Q through its 360 of travel as mentioned below. in connection with the parts of the system identified by the reference characters 172,, 17c and 1m.

Near the end of the travel of the drum timing gear or limit switch Q a contact is closed momentarily and completes the control circuit, indicated at lit, to the apron lift motor M to effect operation thereof to actuate the apron lifting means in a direction to cause downward movement of the aprons. The said motor M continues to operate to cause downward movement of the aprons due to a circuit, indicated at 170, which is completed by a contact on the limit switch Gr previously referred to. Downward motion of the aprons is stopped by the opening of the circuit, indicated at 170, due to the opening of a contact, indicated at 1%, of the limit switch G at the moment of the arrival of the aprons at their extreme down position.

As above stated, the kicking of the plates to the right or to the left, depending upon which side of the kick-off apparatus the receiving car or truck is located, is determined by means of a kick-off master switch and the subsequent operation of either the right or the left piler (there being piler apparatus located on both sides of the kick-01f apparatus) also is determined by 

